When we hear the term “Chaebol (conglomerate) heirs,” we often conjure images of them receiving business lessons in a conservative household setting. However, the recent actions of these heirs paint a different picture. They are stepping into the public eye without concealing their individuality.
According to sources within the business community on February 6, rumors are swirling about Moon Seo Yoon, the eldest daughter of Jung Yoo Kyung, CEO of Shinsegae Department Store, and granddaughter of Lee Myung Hee, chairman of Shinsegae Group, preparing to make her debut in the music industry. Recently, photos of Moon with other trainees from THEBLACKLABLE surfaced on online communities. These images captured Moon striking various poses with other women in what appears to be a practice room.
Born in 2002, Moon is studying at the prestigious Columbia University in the United States. She also boasts a following of over 70,000 on Instagram, earning her the title of an “influencer.” While it’s not uncommon for children of famous entertainers to enter the entertainment industry, cases of heirs of conglomerates joining K-pop agencies are exceptionally rare. This is why attention is focused on whether Moon will debut.
Among those associated with THEBLACKLABEL is Lee Seung Joo, also known as LØREN, the son of Lee Hae Jin, the Global Investment Officer (GIO) at Naver. It is known that Lee’s grandfather is Lee Si Yong, who served as Vice President and CEO of Samsung Life Insurance and as President and CEO of SK Life Insurance.
Standing at 188cm (6’2″) tall with handsome looks, LØREN is active as a singer, producer, club DJ, and model. Unlike his father, who is dubbed the “reclusive businessman,” LØREN is known for his bright and cheerful personality. Not only his personality but also his tattoos and piercings often attract attention, displaying a distinctive character rarely seen among heirs of conglomerates.
Lee Seung Hwan, the nephew of Choi Tae Won, the chairman of SK Group, and the CEO of Dolgong Donation, garnered significant attention last December by revealing his daily life and home through YouTube‘s “Human Story.” The video, which detailed his daily routine and included interviews, has gathered around 4.46 million views as of this day, about a month and a half since its posting.
Regarding his appearance, Lee Seung Hwan mentioned, “It was not an easy decision. I didn’t have any particular reason to expose myself externally,” stating that he decided to appear to change the culture of donations. Lee’s mother is the fourth daughter of the late Choi Jong Gun, the founder of SK, and his father is Lee Dong Wook, the third son of the late Lee Hu Rak, the former director of the National Intelligence Service of the Republic of Korea.
There has also been considerable interest in the activities of Ham Yon Ji, the third generation of the Ham family, which owns Ottogi, a food manufacturing company headquartered in Anyang. Ham, the eldest daughter among the one son and one daughter of Ham Young Joon, the chairman of Ottogi, majored in acting at New York University and has also been active as a musical actress.
Although she has since suspended her activities, she ran a YouTube channel called “Ham Yonji” in 2019, garnering 470,000 subscribers. Ham, who portrayed a familiar and approachable daily life, received much love from the public.
After suspending her YouTube activities recently, Ham attended the Winter Fancy Food Show 2024 held in Las Vegas, where speculation arose that she might be receiving business lessons. However, Ottogi clarified that it was a personal visit.